Tailoring the surface acidity of catalyst to enhance nonthermal plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis rates

We report nonthermal plasma-assisted catalytic ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2 molecules at near ambient conditions in a custom-built coaxial dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor. Here, we strategically designed catalysts to facilitate dissociation of strong nitrogen bond and desorption of NH3 molecules. This work demonstrates the use of empty orbitals of boron doped in graphitic carbon nitride (BCN) to activate nitrogen molecules, by creating electron-deficient sites, under nonthermal plasma conditions. Transition metals (Co and Fe) further contribute to the ammonia generation by altering the amount of weak acid sites of the BCN catalyst. As a result, at 20.16 kJ L−1, the maximum ammonia synthesis rate of ∼2.48mmolg−1h−1 was achieved by Co-BCN that corresponds to energy efficiency of 2.09 g-NH3 kWh−1, which was ca. 2.89-folds higher than that of plasma only. Evidently, dual mechanisms at play, leading to enhanced ammonia synthesis rates. Our strategy of tailoring catalyst structure provides a roadmap for engineering synergy with nonthermal plasma towards targeted applications.